Sexual Harassment & Gender-Based Discrimination 
The Sexual Harassment & Gender-based Discrimination spoke values the fundamental dignity and quality of all people. Sexual harassment behaviors such as unwanted touching, jokes and slurs, and unwelcome questions contribute to a feeling of fear and trepidation. This is amplified when women experience unfair treatment, shame, marginalization, and blatant disregard due to their gender. According to research, either or both of these experiences diminish a woman’s sense of self-respect, confidence, and security. For women to speak up and lead out, and even just participate in society as an equal contributor, they need to feel safe and respected. This spoke will focus on ways that Utah can decrease sexual harassment and a variety of other types of gender-based discrimination. To learn more, check out the resource box below.
Spoke Leaders
Nancy Sylvester
Labor & Employment Counsel
LinkedIn Profile
Nancy Sylvester serves as Labor & Employment Counsel for Management & Training Corporation. Nancy is passionate about policy work, civil discourse, and exploring how systems improvements can improve community members’ lives.
Amy Morgan
Attorney | Board Member, UCLI
LinkedIn Profile
Amy Morgan is an attorney who has devoted her career to advocating for members of marginalized communities, including survivors of domestic violence. She is passionate about lifting women, helping them feel safe, both at home and in the workplace.
Dr. Helen Knaggs leads Research & Development at Nu Skin Enterprises and chairs Nu Skin’s Women Rising Employee Resource Group. She recently completed research on gender bias published through the Utah Women & Leadership Project. 
Bold Vision & Goals
To make Utah a place where more girls and women can thrive, the Sexual Harassment & Gender-Based Discrimination spoke leaders and partners have crafted the vision and goals below.
Vision: Significantly decrease sexual harassment and other types of gender-based discrimination so Utah girls and women can participate in society as equal contributors with self-respect and security.
Goals:
- Change Utahns’ agreement (understanding and perceptions) in the following areas [Metric Dashboard]:
- Sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination are problems in the state of Utah. [Increase agreement by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030]
- People make a bigger deal out of sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination than is warranted. [Decrease by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030]
- I know what steps to take or what resources are available if me or a friend experienced sexual harassment. [Increase by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030]
- I trust that most organizations in Utah would appropriately handle a sexual harassment report. [Increase by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030]
- Increase data and longitudinal research around the prevalence of sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination by conducting at least two comprehensive, statewide studies on sexual harassment and gender discrimination incidents. [Metric Dashboard]
- Increase public policy addressing sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination by bringing one policy recommendation to the legislature each year, passing a minimum of three by 2030. [Metric Dashboard]
- Expand upon existing certification programs to recognize at least 1,000 Utah organizations that pledge to adhere to policies recommended by BWF that help mitigate harassment and gender-based discrimination. Partner with community organizations to amplify this program across the state. [Metric Dashboard]
- Create and publish best practices and a database of resources, including trainings and model employment policies, to improve the quality of response to and prevention of sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination in Utah. [Metric Dashboard]
Thriving Statement: Women thrive when they are able to participate in a society as equal contributors with self-respect and security, free from sexual harassment and other types of gender-based discrimination.
- What Utahns Need to Know
- Informational Video
- Spoke Introduction Podcast
- Living Room Conversation Guide
Research:
Partners
Working Groups
- Healthcare Discrimination: Emily Lowder (Associate, Hall, Prangle, & Schoonveld)
- Male Allyship
- Policy: Galen Shimoda (Owner, Shimoda Law Corp.) & Daniela Harding (Political Representative, Utah House of Representatives)
- Research: Judy Ceccherini (School Therapist, Wasatch Behavioral Health)
- Trainings/Resources: Jon Hafen (Shareholder, Parr, Brown, Gee, & Loveless) & Kaitlyn Pieper (Executive Director, Utah Center for Legal Inclusion)
- Women in Sports: Carla Swenson-Haslam (Associate, Kirton McConkie) & Holly Bell (Student/Family Rights Specialist, Utah State Board of Education)
- Young Professionals: Erika Carlson (Director of Marketing and Communications, Peace House)
What You Can Do
Say something when you see or experience any form of sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination. Learn effective response techniques, including asking questions.
Educate yourself and others about the prevalence of sexual harassment and genderbased discrimination and how it shows up most often in Utah. Gather and share experiences to help inform policy, research, and training.
Find out what policies and practices can be put in place that help your business or organization create a culture where all employees can thrive. Encourage your organization to implement effective policies and practices.
Get Engaged: Ways to get engaged include joining a working group for this Spoke; asking your work to partner with us to host a training on sexual harassment; learning how to be an “upstander” and commit to being one; and educating yourself about and supporting current legislation and policy surrounding sexual harassment at both the local, state, and federal levels. Thank you for your interest!
Brooke Piippo
Spoke Coordinator
LinkedIn Profile
brookepiippo21@gmail.com